CFB St. Hubert


Canadian Forces Base St. Hubert was a Canadian Forces Base in the city of Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The base began as a civilian airfield in the 1920s and was later also used by RCAF auxiliary squadrons beginning in the mid 1930s. It became a fully-fledged RCAF station early in WW2 being extensively used for training as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After the war, it grew into and remained for decades, one of the most important air bases in Canada.
In its heyday as an operational air force station, it was host to multiple jet fighter squadrons flying the de Havilland Vampire and later the CF 100 in all-weather fighter squadrons, and two Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Sabre squadrons, 2 multi engine transport squadrons in addition to being the host station to RCAF Air Defence Command Headquarters. It became part of CFB Montreal upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968 with the HQ now serving as the Mobile Command Headquarters. The main base was decommissioned by the Canadian Forces in the mid 1990s being downsized to a garrison under the administrative control of CFB Montreal. 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron operates from the former base's airfield.

History

World War II

RCAF Station St Hubert was a Royal Canadian Air Force airbase established in World War II at the Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport. The station was home to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan No. 13 Service Flying Training School from 1 September 1941 to February 1944 when it moved to moved to North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It had a relief field located at Farnham, Quebec. It operated the North American Harvard and the Avro Anson as advanced training aircraft.
In 1942 the aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - St.Hubert, Province of Quebec at with a variation of 16 degrees west and elevation of. Three runways were listed as follows:
Runway NameLengthWidthSurface
6/24Hard Surfaced
10/28Hard Surfaced
1/19Hard Surfaced

Postwar

As early as 1946, RCAF squadrons previously disbanded overseas the year before following the end of hostilities, were being reformed in Canada. Both regular and auxiliary units were reactivated in St-Hubert. 410 Sqn, a regular RCAF unit on the new British designed Vampire jet fighter, and 401 and 438 squadrons flying the Harvard and then also converting to Vampires.
In its heyday as an operational air force station, it was host to multiple jet fighter squadrons flying the de Havilland Vampire and later the CF 100 in all-weather fighter squadrons, and two Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Sabre squadrons, 2 multi engine transport squadrons in addition to being the host station to RCAF Air Defence Command Headquarters. It became part of CFB Montreal upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968 with the HQ now serving as the Mobile Command Headquarters. The main base was decommissioned by the Canadian Forces in the mid 1990s being downsized as a garrison.

Post decommissioning

The airport remains in use as Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport.

Operations

A Canadian Forces garrison remains at the airport, including 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and 34 Service Battalion.
No longer using the runways, 438 Squadron has separate helipads located next to a hangar on rue Leckie.
New army recruits in the Primary Reserve often take their BMQ course under the supervision of 34 Service Battalion at this location.